Citizen Science along the Rio Grande: K-12 science, education, and stewardship

Wednesday 1:30pm-4:00pm Student Union: Trailblazer/Spirit
Afternoon Mini Workshop

Convener

Kelly Steinberg, Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program

Participants will gather at 12:50 p.m. for transportation off-site. Meet at the loading zone in front of the parking garage near the Student Union; there will be two small yellow school buses - see map (Acrobat (PDF) 232kB Jul11 17).

The Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program (BEMP) uses citizen science to engage students in real world questions through collecting and analyzing data in the Rio Grande bosque. This workshop will focus on engaging students in science by enabling them to answer questions relevant to their community through collecting, analyzing and interpreting their own data. Several types of data, including precipitation, arthropods, vegetation and weather are easily studied at school, in student's neighborhoods or in natural areas. During the workshop participants will take a field trip to the Bosque (riparian forest along the Rio Grande) in Albuquerque to collect data on groundwater, precipitation and vegetation then return to the classroom to practice analyzing student collected data through graphing and visual representations and learn to interpret their meaning. BEMP educators will provide teachers with resources to find data sets they can contribute to and use in their classrooms and information about citizen science projects for students and ways to be involved in BEMP.


Note: Participants should be prepared to spend part of this workshop is outside with sturdy shoes, a hat and water bottle. BEMP will provide sunscreen and bug spray if needed.

Presentation Media

Citizen Science powerpoint (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 13.1MB Jul18 17)
Citizen Science brainstorm (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 223kB Jul18 17)

Goals

  • Understand how citizen science can be used in the classroom to engage students in their community.
  • Understand how students collect data that shapes local land management.
  • Identify tools to engage students in citizen science.

Program

12:50 Meet at buses

1:00-1:15 Drive to Tingley Beach

1:15 Arrive at Tingley Beach

1:15-1:25 Introduction to Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program

1:25-2:30 BEMP's monthly data collection and Nature's Notebook data collection

2:30-2:45 Return to UNM

2:50-3:00 Break

3:00-3:40 Analyze and interpret student collected data

3:40-4:00 Explore citizen science projects and tools for educators.